When it comes to ensuring that our children get a nutritious start to a day of learning, Illinois has room for improvement.
As the principal of an elementary school that has been providing free breakfasts to students during school hours for six years, I see firsthand the difference a morning meal makes. Kids who eat breakfast perform better on tests, take fewer trips to the nurse and attend more school days per year. What I witness every day at my school reinforces what years of research tells us — providing kids with breakfast helps reduce their risk of developing health issues and increases their chances of academic success. They have better brain function, memory and attention and score 17.5% higher on standardized tests than kids who skip the morning meal.
What I also know is that families come in all shapes and sizes. Families like Natalie Morehead’s, she is a mother of three living in Englewood who is also a Greater Chicago Food Depository neighbor advocate. I had the honor of testifying alongside Natalie at a recent Illinois state Senate committee hearing to advocate for increased access to school breakfasts.
Like many families, Natalie is juggling a lot. Getting three kids ready for school every morning while trying to get to work on time herself is no small feat, especially when all three schools are in different neighborhoods. Knowing that she can rely on her eldest son’s school to give him something to eat when he arrives is a huge relief. Unfortunately, her other school-aged son is not so lucky. His school doesn’t offer breakfast after the bell. And on extra challenging mornings when he can’t get to school earlier, he may miss out on the breakfast served before school starts. I know many more parents face the same predicament. These parents need help.
Breakfast after the bell works. By providing grab-and-go breakfasts at the start of the day for children to eat during their first class, we’re setting them up for a productive day of learning. Since introducing the model at our school in 2016, breakfast participation has increased by 400%. As a result, our students are more focused and perform better in school. Also, by offering breakfast to all students later in the morning, it has helped eliminate the social stigma associated with getting a free school meal. This matters a lot to socially conscious kids.
I believe that most schools want to offer breakfast after the bell. However, many can’t afford the start-up costs needed to get the program off the ground. A new bill proposed in the state Senate authorizes the Illinois State Board of Education to provide some schools with a modest one-time grant of $7,500 to purchase equipment such as kiosks, portable coolers and storage, cited by schools as one of the main obstacles to making the switch from cafeteria meals.
The bill also makes school breakfasts and lunches free for working families living just above the poverty line. The reduced price of a daily breakfast and lunch can add up fast, creating continued hardship for families. Our state’s children living in households earning barely above the poverty line still struggle with having to pay for reduced-price school meals, often incurring school meal debt. Committing to covering this cost would not only provide peace of mind for these families but would also ensure all low-income children have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.
These are the main reasons why I wholeheartedly support the bill. I urge members of the Illinois General Assembly to support and approve funding in the budget to help schools start or expand flexible breakfast programs so that all children have access to the morning nutrition they need to thrive. Currently, Illinois ranks 41st in the country when it comes to school breakfast participation. We can and must do better.
Robert Mensch has been principal of Liberty Elementary School, Cicero School District 99, since 2019 and assistant principal since 2015. He has more than 16 years of experience in teaching and school administration.
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